Nishin. In the semi-finals of the Asian Games, India defeated Sri Lanka by 124 runs. Playing first, the Indian team scored 169. In reply, the Sri Lankan team collapsed for just 45 runs in 9.5 overs. Now India will face Pakistan on September 3 for the Asian Games Men's Cricket Gold Medal. In the men's cricket semi-finals of the Asian Games, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl first against India. The Indian team led by Shreyas Iyer, batting first, scored 169/7.
Highlights of Sri Lanka's innings
Sri Lanka had a very bad start in the run chase and Sineth Jayawardene was out LBW by Jasprit Bumrah on the very second ball at the score of 0. In the same over, Jasprit Bumrah got Sohan de Livera (0) caught out by Sanju Samson behind the wicket. In this way, Sri Lanka suffered two setbacks in the very first over of the run chase.
Opener Lasith Kruspule was also run out without opening the account. After this, captain Sahan Arachige also left after scoring 9 runs. Whereas Ashen Bandara (0) was out as the fifth wicket. The sixth wicket was of Nuwanidu Fernando (15), who was run out. The seventh wicket was of Vanuj Sahan, who was out after scoring one run on the ball of Washington Sundar.
Highlights of India's innings
In this match, Sri Lanka won the toss and invited India to bat first, Ishan Kishan was the biggest highlight of Indian batting. He played an unbeaten inning of 80 runs in 46 balls. There were 4 fours and 5 sixes in his innings.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma came to open for India. Abhishek Sharma showed aggressive style as soon as he came, but his innings could not last long. He scored 7 runs in just 3 balls. Captain Sahan Archige got him caught out by Sineth Jayawardene. Sanju Samson also could not stay at the crease for long. He scored 7 runs in 9 balls. Tharindu Ratnayake clean bowled Sanju.
Whereas Sahan Archige ended Vaibhav Suryavanshi's stormy innings of 38 runs in 21 balls. Vaibhav hit 6 fours and 2 sixes in his innings and scored runs at a strike rate of 180.95. He came down the track to play the ball going outside the off stump, but the grip and turn of the ball surprised him. The bat took a thick outside edge and the ball bounced towards short third, where Sineth Jayawardene took a brilliant catch a few inches above the ground.
Whereas Shreyas Iyer was clean bowled by Vanujaa Sahan on 13 runs. As soon as Shreyas was out, the Indian team's score became 87/4. After this, Akshar Patel could not do anything special and walked away after scoring 8 runs. He was caught by Sahan Arachchige on the ball of Lasith Kruspule. Tilak Verma was also out after scoring 2 runs. Which was the sixth wicket of the team.
Whereas Ishan Kishan maintained one end of the match and completed his fifty in 33 balls. This was Ishaan's seventh fifty in T20. In the 19th over, Shivam Dubey, while trying to score runs quickly, was out for 3 runs on the ball of Tharindu Ratnayake. From Sri Lankan side, captain Sahar Archige and Tharindu Ratnayake got 2 successes each.
Sanju, Abhishek and Vaibhav get a chance together for the first time
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has got a chance in the semi-finals against Sri Lanka. At the same time, this is the first time that Vaibhav, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are included in the team together. Ishan Kishan and Tilak Verma are also part of the team. Whereas among all-rounders, Shivam Dubey, Akshar Patel and Washington Sundar are all three in the team. Spinner Ravi Bishnoi is also in the playing-11. Spin bowlers got more help in the match against Japan, hence Team India has included only one fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the team.